The grounds of Wainui House were affected by a large flood in 1904 when ‘over 100 pounds of damage was done' when the river washed away the croquet ground soil.⁴  Today, however, there are still heritage trees growing, puriri and huge northern rata and a pomegranate and citrus from the original orchard. The large flat lawn remains where the original lawn tennis court was located.⁵ 

Wainui house. Nelson Provincial Museum Kingsford Collection 162011

Throughout the early 1900s there are numerous advertisements in the local newspaper for Wainui House as a private guest-house of superior accommodation with tennis lawns and bowling greens, several staff and a dining room.  An advertisement in the 1915 Nelson Mail lists 'room for 40 boarders and known throughout New Zealand'. It cost 2 pound 2 shillings per week or 8 shillings a day with “letters and telegrams attended to” (in 1917).⁶

Emily Acheson was proprietor of Wainui house from 1920 until her death in 1938. Here she met travellers from all over New Zealand and the world. Throughout this period there were regular newspaper updates about who was staying at Wainui House, sometimes for long periods. It was particularly popular over the Christmas and Summer months. The leasehold business was put up for sale after Emily’s death.⁷

Emily's daughter Sybil Acheson married accountant Ivan Mackersey in 1933⁸ and for a time they lived in Wellington. The ownership moved into the hands of the Mackersey family from the 1940s. Sybil died in 1977 and Ivan Mackersey lived at Wainui House until 1993 when he died aged 89. Their son Bruce remained at Wainui house for some years and died in 2022 aged 87. 

The house was converted into flats in the 1950s and is now run by a private company. In 2022 Wainui House was advertised for sale for $3.651 million, nearly all of which is land value. Most of the flats are still tenanted. The Victorian villa has a Nelson City Council Group B listing due to its cultural, social and historical significance.⁹

2022